Crosby High misses federal math standards

By BOBBY HORN JR.
CROSBY— While each of Crosby ISD’s campuses received “Academically Acceptable” from the TEA (Texas Education Agency) based on their 2006 TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), Crosby High School failed to meet criteria established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
A preliminary report from the TEA’s Office of Accountability and Data Quality for (AYP) Adequate Yearly Progress showed that the high school missed the performance level in mathematics.
District Superintendent Dr. Don Hendrix said he was not surprised by the report. The campus, he said, has trouble with the passage rate among African American students and the report just proves what they have already known—that more work was needed.
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The AYP looks at the areas of reading/ language skills, mathematics and graduation/ attendance rates.
District wide, Hendrix said, Crosby did well coming just a few students from hitting the TEA’s “Recognized” status. The test results, he added, gives the district guidance and where extra focus needs to be made.
According to the TEA’s report in mathematics, Crosby had a 44% passage rate. With 176 students in that group taking the test 11 more would have broken the 50% plateau.
African Americans weren’t the only group with math troubles. Economically Disadvantaged students had a 40% passage rate in math. Hispanics students had a 49% passage rate, just two students away from the 50% mark. Hispanics were also the only group to show improvement from 2005, with the passage rate going up 4%.
While a “failed to meet criteria” will not cost Crosby federal funds, Hendrix said that it is an important tool in focusing their efforts.
To help students, Hendrix said they will begin hosting after school test sessions to help students prepare for the tests. “We are going to do what we can, but in the end the students have to step up and pass the test,” he said.
Mike Joseph, the assistant superintendent for instruction, said that they have also set up teams of four teachers who work with groups of students to give extra instruction in the testing areas of math, reading, writing and social studies.
The high school has also created a separate ninth grade lunch to help students transition from junior high to school as well bring them together for study sessions.
While Huffman’s Hargrave High was found “Unacceptable” by the TEA based on scores by its Special Education students, as a whole the high school met federal AYP criteria in all areas.
The same could not be said for Baytown’s Lee High School, which failed to meet criteria in both reading participation and math participation and performance.
Under the criteria, districts are required to have 95% of special education students take the tests. This year, Lee had 92% take the tests, or a lack of two students.